Special People/ Shiphrah, Puah, Moses' Mother, Pharaoh's Daughter

A new king  (Pharaoh) had taken power in Egypt and he saw that the Israelites population was looking a little too numerous for his comfort. And so he put slave masters over them to control them and as such, they were not treated well at all. They worked the Israelites harshly to keep them from multiplying and yet it did not stop them. The Israelite population continued to grow. The king came up with another plan to stop their growth.

He told the Egyptian midwives that when they were aiding the Hebrew women giving birth if they saw that the babies were male, they were to kill them. If they were female they were allowed to live. 

There were two midwives whose names were Shiphrah and Puah. And these women feared God and did not do what the king had told them to do. They allowed the baby boys to live. When the king found this out, he called them to him and asked them why they had not obeyed him. The midwives told him that the Hebrew women had been strong and given birth before they could arrive. 

Because they had feared God over the king and had let the boy babies live, God was kind to them, it tells us in verse 20 and the Israelite populations grew in more numerous. And God gave the midwives families of their own. (verse 21)

And so what did the king do?  He ordered that every boy that was born was to be thrown into the Nile River but every girl could live. 

Perhaps the two midwives had lied about their actions to the king, or perhaps it was partly true. Whatever it was, God did bless them in that they had not obeyed the evil order of the king who had wanted to destroy the babies that were born to the Hebrew women. The act of their fear of God had been greater than their fear of the king.

That, however, did not stop the king. He had then gave the order to "all" people that all baby boys were to be thrown into the Nile River, while baby girls could live. 

And that is where the birth of Moses had come into play. 

Most of us know that story from Sunday School. His parents were from the tribe of Levi. And when his mother gave him birth, she hid him until he was three months old. Then, she put him in a basket that she had prepared for him and set it along the banks of the Nile among the reeds that were there. 

The Pharaoh's daughter had gone down to the river one day to bath and she saw the basket. She had her female slave to get it and when she opened it, she knew this was a Hebrew baby. He was crying and she felt sorry for him. The baby's mother was summoned to come and nurse him and eventually, he became the son of Pharoh's daughter. She named him Moses. 

Source: Should the Hebrew midwives be commended for lying?

Whatever the deal was when the midwives were not quite truthful to the king, had they not been more fearful of God, the life of Moses, who years later would himself become a great leader, perhaps would have never begun. God had used the women, despite the circumstances. 

And it goes to show, that even when we aren't always obedient to him, he can use us and our circumstances for his glory. Even in the face of evil. 

We should always strive to be obedient, yes. It is for our benefit when we do. It is always the better way. But when we do fail, it does not mean that God is helpless to turn around a bad situation. He will always work things to the good of those that love him and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

April 25, 2019 Promise: For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

Thanks for coming by today Friends. May you have a blessed day